“Slavery is said to be an evil… But is no evil. On the contrary, I believe it to be the greatest of all the great blessings which a kind Providence has bestowed upon our glorious region… As a class, I say it boldly; there is not a happier, more contented race upon the face of the earth… Lightly tasked, well clothed, well fed—far better than the free laborers of any country in the world,… their lives and persons protected by the law, all their sufferings alleviated by the kindest and most interested care....”
This speech by Henry Hammond in 1836 shows that anything can be defended and that a person’s perspective about historical events is skewed by their position of privilege and position.
I saw a quote on a recycled notebook and it seems appropriate here…
“You’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.”
The world always looks better for the people who benefit from it’s set up. Which makes me all the more determined never to get comfortable in my acceptance by what is clearly a biased, discriminatory, racist system. Intent isn’t something that can wash away impact. Intent is the weapon of the privilege. And the bane of the marginalized. Because no matter the intent of people who hung my ancestors, the impact says they’re still dead.
So that’s why I used my time at IDEO not to better myself — had no intention of trying to ascend in a system that I knew was rigged- but to create receipts of change. To sacrifice my time, money and effort to create a place where everyone could belong. And there are many people at IDEO doing the same and all I ask is why are they not the majority? Why do they remain a small faction of allies? Why isn’t the human-centered design firm focusing on being human-centered for all humans?
To me equity isn’t a “higher standard,” it’s not an “ideal,” and my right to exist as a women of color to work without being bullied, downgraded and treated like less than what I deserve isn’t a “mythical stance.” It’s an expectation and a rightful one and that. If one person is treated unfairly and inequitable than all people are culpable in the system that perpetuated that inequity. I’m sorry I demand a culture where bullying and discrimination are holistically rejected and nothing spins the wheels until it’s corrected. But hey that’s just me.
There are those who find comfort in their privilege who think I got out alright so it’s must not be that bad and believe me I’ve been there. But these days I’m starting to rethink this stance because what’s the point of getting to the top of a system just to stand on backs and necks of others?
